France, Feb. 1 -- A powerful new documentary at France's Fipadoc festival reveals Western Sahara's fight for independence through the story of Mariem Hassan, whose music became the voice of her people's resistance until her death in 2015.

The filmHaiyu - Rebel Singer Mariem Hassan and the Struggle for a Free Western Sahara, chronicles Africa's last colony. This resource-rich territory of 266,000 square kilometres, with valuable phosphate deposits and fishing waters, is home to 600,000 inhabitants.

Since Spain ended its colonial rule in the mid-1970s, the region has remained caught between Morocco and Mauritania's territorial claims, while Sahrawi independence fighters backed by Algeria continue their push for sovereignty.

At its premie...